Wire winding tool



June 13, 3%? P. N. m Lsom WIRE WINDING TOOL Filed Jan. 6, 1965 IINVENTOR.

flow. A! fi asm United States Patent Ewing, doing business as BlackliawkCompany, Rock Island, Ill.

Filed Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,691 4 Claims. (Cl. 140117) My inventionrelates to a new and useful improvement in a wire winding tool and moreparticularly to a device for fastening a segment of wire intermediatethe ends of a continuous strand of wire by winding the ends of thesegment of wire in opposite directions about a continuous strand ofwire.

A principal object of my invention is to provide in a tool of thischaracter a means for releasably positioning the tool onto a continuousstrand of wire intermediate its ends so that the tool may be readily andeasily rotated about the longitudinal axis of the continuous strand ofwire as it operates to fasten thereto a second segment of wire.

A further object of my invention is in the provision in a tool of thischaracter of a means for engaging the free end of a segment of wire tobe used as a fastener, and winding and coiling the same upon and about acontinuous strand of wire intermediate the ends thereof.

A still further important object of my invention is in a tool of thischaracter that is small and compact in size, highly portable, simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my wire tool;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of my tool shown from its opposite side;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing my tool as applied ontoa strand of wire;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one form of a fence post with a wirefastener applied by use of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another form of fence post showing the wirefastener as applied by the use of my invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view showing a modified form ofmy improved tool; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of my improved tool.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tool which may beemployed to fasten a wire woven fence to fence posts without the use ofthe conventional staple type fasteners or expensive wire fasteners nowcommercially employed. By the use of my invention a simple length ofwire may be employed as a fastener for securely attaching a wire fenceto a fence post.

My improved wire winding tool, as illustrated in the drawings, showingthe preferred embodiment of my invent-ion, comprises a solid circularbody 10 having substantially flat parallel end walls 11 and 12. The body10 is to be constructed of a suitable material which gives the tool theneeded tensile strength to accomplish its stated objects.

A passage 13 is provided in the body 10 by forming therein a slotthrough a radius of the body 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body 10has a fixed handle .14 extending from the side wall 15 thereof. As shownin FIG. 1, such handle 14 is offset longitudinally of the horizontalcenter line of the body Ill, and lies in the same longitudinal 3,324,991Patented June 13, 1967 "ice axis described by a movable handle 16 whichextends-in an opposite direction from the side wall 15.

The movable handle 16 is provided with a threaded end 17 which isadapted to be threadably received in an internally threaded opening 18formed in the body 10. This opening 18 is in open communication with thepassage 13 at a point outwardly of the inner wall '19 of the passage 13so that upon the threading of the handle 16 into the opening 18 thetapered end 20 of the handle will protrude into and transversely throughthe passage 13 at a point removed from the inner wall 19 and offsetlaterally with respect to the center line of the body 10, as seen inFIG. 3.

Projecting tangentially outwardly from the face of the end wall 11 is anengaging means in the form of a circular stud 21. This stud 21 lies inthe same longitudinal axis defined by the fixed handle 14 and movablehandle 16, as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, I have shown fragmentarily a V-type fence post 22 anda semi-circular fence post 23, respectively, which are the most commontypes of fence posts employed in supporting a wire fence.

As can be determined from FIGS. 4 and 5, a continuous strand of wirefencing 24 extends transversely to the longitudinal length of the fenceposts 22 and 23. A fastener 25, which is made up from a short segment ofwire, is passed around the sides of the post with its free endsextending beyond the continuous strand of wire fencing 24. The free end25' of the wire fastener 25 is manually bent into a position where itextends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thestrand of wire fencing 24 as shown in FIG. 3. The tool then is placedupon the strand of wire fencing 24. This is accomplished by rotating themovable handle 16 so as to thread the same out of communication with thepassage 13 formed in the body 10. The body 10 is then placed on the wire24 and the movable handle 16 is again threaded into the body 10 untilthe tapered end 20 thereof releasably secures the wire 24 between theinner wall 19 of the passage 13 and such tapered end 20 of the handle 16as shown in FIG. 3.

In this position of the tool on the wire 24, the circular stud 21 willengage the free end 25' of the fastener wire 25 and upon rotation of thebody 10 about the longitudinal axis of the wire fencing 24, such freeend will be caused to be wound or coiled into the conditions shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The operation is repeated on the opposite side of thepost so as to readily secure the wire fencing 24 to the post.

In FIG. 6 I show a modified form of my improved wire winding toolwherein in place of the movable handle 16, I have provided a springurged ball detent. As shown in FIG, 6, an aperture 26 is formed in thebody 10 in which is positioned a spring 27 and ball detent 28. A handlemember 29 is fixedly journaled into the opening 26 so as to retain thespring urged ball detent in place. With the modified structure, theoperator need only to force the wire 24 into the passage 13 over andbeyond the ball detent 28 to releasably attach the body to the wire.

In FIG. 7 I show a modified form of my improved wire winding tool whichcomprises an elongated rectangularly shaped body member 30. Positionedon one side face 31 of the body member 30 is an elongated flat springlatch member 32 which has one end 33 connected by means of a rivet 34 tothe body member 30 so that the spring latch 32 lies in substantialfacial abutment with the one fiat side 31 of .the body 30. The free endof the spring latch 32 is deformed out of the normal longitudinal planethereof as at 35 to provide a wire receiving groove. Slidably embracingthe body 30, as well as the spring latch 32 is a movable clip 36. Whenthe clip 36 is moved in one direction over the spring latch 32 and body30, it will engage the deformed portion 35 of the spring latch 32 andcause the same to be yieldably held against the side face 31 of the body30. When the slide 36 is moved in the direction of the rivet 34 the freeend of the spring latch 32 may be caused to be displaced slightly fromthe face 31 of the member 30 so that a strand of wire may be received inthe Wire receiving groove formed by the deformed portion 35. When theslide 36 is again moved away from the rivet 34 it will yieldably COnnectthe wire strand to the body 30.

Carried by .the body 30 is a laterally extending finger plate 37. Thisfinger plate functions in the same manner as the circular stud 21hereinbefore defined so that when the body 30 is connected to a wirestrand as hereinbefore explained, the finger 37 Will engage the free endof a fastener wire and cause the same to be coiled about the wire strandwhen the body 30 is rotated about the axial plane of the wire fencing orthe like.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that I have devised a simpletool which is simple to operate, yet highly elfective in use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for winding the ends of a wire fastener about a strand ofcontinuous Wire for connecting the same together comprising (a) a bodymember,

(b) a passage extending through the body following a radius thereof forreceiving a portion of a continuous wire intermediate its ends,

(c) a means for releasably holding said portion of said continuous wirein said passage while permitting rotation of said body member about thelongitudinal axis of said Wire,

((1) a means carried by said body for engaging the free end of the wirefastener for Winding said free end about the continuous strand of wireupon rotation of said body about the longitudinal axis of said strand ofwire for fastening the wires together,

(e) said means for releasably holding a portion of said continuous Wirein said passage comprising an elongated element movable longitudinallythrough a segment of said body and into said passage at a point removedfrom the inner end wall of said passage a distance greater than thethickness of the continuous 55 said fastener to be coiled or Wound aboutsaid continuous strand of wire for connecting the same together.

3. A tool for winding the ends of a wire fastener about 'a strand ofcontinuous Wire for connecting the same together comprising (a) acompact circular body having substantially flat opposite side walls,

(b) a passage extending through the body following a radius .thereof forreceiving a portion of a continuous wire intermediate its ends,

(c) a means for releasably holding said portion of said continuous wirein said passage while permitting rotation of said body member about-thelongitudinal axis of said wire,

(d) a wire engaging stud extending tangentially from one of said flatside walls of said body for contacting the free end of said wirefastener upon the rotation of said body about the longitudinal axis ofsaid continuous strand of Wire in the direction defined by thetangentially extending stud for winding said free end of said wirefastener about the continuous strand of wire for fastening the wirestogether,

(e) said means for releasably holding a portion of said continuous wirein said passage comprises an elongated element movable longitudinallythrough a segment of said body and into said passage at a point from theinner end wall of said passage a distance greater than the thickness ofthe strand of wire so as to loosely retain said Wire within said passageand said body rotatable theron.

4. A tool for winding the ends of a wire fastener about a strand ofcontinuous wire for connecting the same together comprising (a) a bodymember,

(b) means for removably connecting said body member .to a portion of acontinuous wire intermediate its ends while permitting rotation of saidbody member about the longitudinal axis of said continuous wire, and

(c) a means carried by said body for engaging the free end of the wirefastener for winding said free end about the continuous strand of wireupon rotation of said body about the longitudinal axis of said strand ofWire for fastening the wires together,

((1) said means for removably connecting said body member to a portionof a continuous wire intermediate its ends comprises a spring latch anda movable clip member for maintaining said spring latch in a wireholding position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,613 2/1887 Lewis et al140-117 X 620,826 3/ 1899 Bardelmeier 140-117 626,438 6/ 1899 Nicolai1401 17 1,007,535 10/1911 Cones 140117 1,174,128 3/1916 Davitt 140115WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A TOOL FOR WINDING THE ENDS OF A WIRE FASTENER ABOUT A STRAND OFCONTINUOUS WIRE FOR CONNECTING THE SAME TOGETHER COMPRISING (A) A BODYMEMBER, (B) A PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH THE BODY FOLLOWING A RADIUSTHEREOF FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF A CONTINUOUS WIRE INTERMEDIATE ITSENDS, (C) A MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID PORTION OF SAID CONTINUOUSWIRE IN SAID PASSAGE WHILE PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID BODY MEMBER ABOUTTHE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID WIRE, (D) A MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY FORENGAGING THE FREE END OF THE WIRE FASTENER FOR WINDING SAID FREE ENDABOUT THE CONTINUOUS STRAND OF WIRE UPON ROTATION OF SAID BODY ABOUT THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID STRAND OF WIRE FOR FASTENNG THE WIRESTOGETHER, (E) SAID MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING A PORTION OF SAIDCONTINUOUS WIRE IN SAID PASSAGE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ELEMENT MOVABLELONGITUDINALLY THROUGH A SEGMENT OF SAID BODY AND INTO SAID PASSAGE AT APOINT REMOVED FROM THE INNER END WALL OF SAID PASSAGE A DISTANCE GREATERTHAN THE THICKNESS OF THE CONTINUOUS STRAND OF WIRE SO AS TO LOOSELYRETAIN SAID WIRE WITHIN SAID PASSAGE AND SAID BODY ROTATABLE THEREON.